The Agence Gabonaise d’Etudes et d’ Spatiale (AGEOS) has launched work to set up the Space Climate Observatory in Gabon (SCO Gabon).

At the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) in Paris in 2015, 197 countries pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and keep global warming below 2% by 2100. To achieve this objective, at the initiative of the Center National d’Etudes Spatiales (CNES), member states signed a declaration on June 17, 2019, at the Paris-Le Bourget International Paris Air Show. This Declaration, the Space Climate Observatory (SCO), was signed by a group of actors bringing together Space Agencies, International Organizations, NGOs, Governmental Institutions, Research Centers and Universities.

Goals

The goal of SCO is consequently the use of Earth Observation (EO) tools, combined with field data and models. Thus, the SCO will provide users and decision-makers with the tools and capacities to study, monitor and adapt to the impacts of climate change at local and regional scales. 

Legal form & Operation

The SCO is an International Consortium without legal personality. Furthermore, the consortium has national and regional versions. These versions are based on the voluntary service and the capacities of its partners and local actors. In addition, each SCO partner contributes to the initiative within its means. Thus, the aim is to complement and develop existing initiatives by promoting them at the local, national and regional level.

A Steering Committee directs the SCO, and all partners are members of COPIL. Additionally, the members have created a secretariat located at CNES in Paris. Since its creation, the members have also organised Five COPIL meetings, the last being January 29, 2021. Gabon’s official membership of the SCO International via AGEOS in October 2019 launched the SCO Gabon initiative

SCO Gabon presentation workshop

On May 18, 2021, AGEOS organised a workshop for the official launch of the work to set up the SCO Gabon. The Minister Delegate for Communication, Gisèle Akoghe’s speech marked the opening of the workshop. She underlined Gabon’s leadership position in Central Africa on climate issues and its involvement. She also noted the Head of State, His Excellency Ali Bongo Ondimba’s establishment of technical and administrative structures. These structures include AGEOS, ANPN (National Agency for National Parks) and the CNC. These bodies have missions that combine knowledge and decision-making on climate issues.